A new PeerJ Life & Environment study has revealed that sloths, the famously slow-moving creatures of Central and South America, may face existential threats due to climate change. The research, conducted by scientists studying the metabolic response of sloths to rising temperatures, suggests that the energy limitations of these animals could make survival untenable by the end of the century, particularly for high-altitude populations. The study, titled "Sloth Metabolism May Make Survival Untenable Under Climate Change Scenarios," investigates how two-fingered sloths (Choloepus hoffmanni), living in both highland and lowland regions, ...

A new study has mapped out the gravitational “basins of attraction” in the local Universe, offering fresh insights into the large-scale cosmic structures that shape the movement of galaxies. Using advanced data from the Cosmicflows-4 compilation of distances and velocities of roughly 56,000 galaxies, the international research team applied cutting-edge algorithms to identify regions where gravity dominates, such as the Sloan Great Wall and the Shapley Supercluster. This research suggests that our Milky Way most probably resides within the larger Shapley basin, shifting ...

New Stanford-led research reveals how water systems, from desalination plants to wastewater treatment facilities, could help make renewable energy more affordable and dependable. The study, published Sept. 27 in Nature Water, presents a framework to measure how water systems can adjust their energy use to help balance power grid supply and demand. “If we’re going to reach net zero, we need demand-side energy solutions, and water systems represent a largely untapped resource,” said study lead author Akshay Rao, an environmental engineering PhD student in the Stanford School of Engineering. ...

It is widely recognized that finance is one of the critical enablers of accelerating climate action. However, renewable energy deployment (particularly in developing countries) requires more financing than fossil fuel-based alternatives due to a combination of factors, such as higher upfront investment costs. This means that finance itself can become a barrier to mitigation investment, which is particularly problematic in the context of energy justice—making renewable energy more widely accessible in low-income countries and communities.  A new international research effort led by CMCC scientists tackles this issue ...

Orbital angular momentum monopoles have been the subject of great theoretical interest as they offer major practical advantages for the emerging field of orbitronics, a potential energy-efficient alternative to traditional electronics. Now, through a combination of robust theory and experiments at the Swiss Light Source SLS at Paul Scherrer Institute PSI, their existence has been demonstrated. The discovery is published in the journal Nature Physics. Whereas electronics uses the charge of the electron to transfer information, technology ...

ORLANDO, Fla.-- The only firearm restrictions found to be effective in reducing mass shootings involving children were laws banning the sale of firearms equipped with a large-capacity magazines, according to a new analysis presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference and Exhibition. Researchers will present, “Do State Gun Laws Affect Pediatric Mass Shootings? A 2009 - 2020 Year Analysis,” during the AAP conference held at Orlando Convention Center Sept. 27-Oct. ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Some babies are born with abnormalities involving the structure of the heart, known as congenital heart disease (CHD). While many studies have shown that more babies with congenital heart disease are surviving past their first birthday as deaths from CHD have significantly decreased in the United States, a research abstract found that race impacts these survival rates. Black infants with congenital heart disease are 40% more likely to die in the first year of life than white infants with congenital heart disease, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— A resurgence of youth seeking a high from “chroming” -- the act of inhaling toxic fumes from household items such as nail polish or permanent markers—could be due to videos featuring the practice on the popular social media platform, TikTok, according to new research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition. The abstract, “Chroming Crisis: An Analysis of Chroming Related Content on TikTok,” examines chroming-related content on TikTok in order to ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Children who are injured by firearms require significantly more inpatient care, have higher medical complication rates and face a greater risk of death than children with other forms of trauma, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, FL. The abstract, “Pediatric Firearm Injuries: Unveiling the Unmatched Healthcare Burden and Costs,” to be presented during the conference Sept. 27-Oct. 1 at the Orange County Convention Center, evaluated data from patients ages 21 and younger between 2017 and 2020. Using data provided by the National ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—Black and LatinX teenagers enrolled in an 8-week racial justice activism program reported fewer symptoms of depression and anxiety, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando, FL. The research, “Our Voices Matter Pilot Study: A Racial Justice Activism Intervention to Reduce Depression in Adolescents,” will be presented during the conference at the Orange County Convention Center Sept. 27-Oct. 1. The study followed seven Black and LatinX teens ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Firearms are the leading cause of death in children in the United States and are linked to over half of youth suicides. Secure storage of firearms (stored locked, unloaded, and separate from the ammunition) can significantly decrease the rates of child and adolescent firearm-related suicides. According to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center from Sept. 27-Oct. 1, “Caregiver Perspectives on Firearm Safety Guidance for Children Hospitalized for Suicidal Ideation ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—Children born to greater socioeconomic backgrounds are significantly more likely to be prescribed opioids, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center from Sept. 27-Oct. 1.  The abstract, “Overprescription of Opioids in White Children from Higher Socioeconomic Backgrounds: Disparities in Opioid Utilization for Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures,” looked at the rates in opioid prescriptions following childhood ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Children with disabilities in foster care are extremely vulnerable, facing risks of maltreatment and removal from their homes and greater need for healthcare services. New research suggests that children with specific disabilities in foster care are less likely to find a permanent home and have a higher risk of mortality while in care compared to those without disabilities. This research, “The Effect of Initial Disability on Permanency Outcomes of Children in Foster Care,” presented during the American Academy of ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—Infants who were exclusively fed breast milk during their hospitalization at birth were 22% less likely to develop asthma in early childhood, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition in Orlando. The abstract, “Association Between Hospital Feeding Patterns and Childhood Asthma,” found lower rates of asthma in the infants born at the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center who were exclusively fed breast milk even after adjusting ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—Water-absorbing beads have become increasingly hazardous to children over the past 10 years, as children who swallow the beads can experience life-threatening problems such as bowel obstruction. In new research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition, researchers reveal the results of an experiment in which they grew the beads to different sizes and tested different child-safe liquids to see which ones could shrink the beads after they had expanded. The abstract, “The Hidden Dangers: Superabsorbent Polymer (SAP) Beads as an Increasing Cause of Bowel Obstruction in Children,” will be presented ...

ORLANDO, Fla.—A study found fewer than one in four Colorado residents living with children at home recognized suicide as the leading cause of firearm death and less than half thought suicide can be prevented, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition. The study will be published online in the journal Pediatrics Sept. 27, the first day of the conference at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition that runs from Sept. 27-Oct. 1 at the Orange County Convention Center. While ...

  ORLANDO, Fla. — While violence prevention education has increased in U.S. schools, only 1 in 10 schools today require violence prevention discussions in class, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition at the Orange County Convention Center. Chloe Gao, MD/PhD Candidate and lead research author on “Implementation of Educational Programming and Policies to Prevent Bullying, Sexual Harassment, and Violence in US Schools, 2008-2020,” studied data collected by the Centers ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— About 7% of more than 1,000 teens who disclosed sexual abuse at a California hospital reported that social media was used to facilitate the assault, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition. The retrospective study, “Social Media Facilitated Sexual Assault in Children,” found that, when accounting only for victims whose perpetrators were not related to them, an even higher percentage – 12%-- reported that social ...

ORLANDO, Fla.— Unintentional injuries like falls, drownings and poisonings are the leading cause of death in patients ages 1-4, and a significant portion of these deaths are linked to unintentional ingestions—such as swallowing a drug or poison. New research shows racial and socioeconomic disparities exist in the emergency management of unintentional ingestions in children.   Black patients younger than age 6 with the diagnosis of unintentional ingestion were more likely than white children to have a social work consult, Children Services Bureau referral, and urine drug screen, according ...

(Boston)—Stroke related to large vessel occlusion (LVO) is a leading cause of disability and death worldwide. Endovascular therapy (minimally invasive procedures like catheterization done inside the blood vessels) has transformed the management of these patients. In 2015, several randomized trials showed the benefit of endovascular therapy compared with medical management in reducing disability in some patients, most of whom had small core infarction and presented to an emergency department within six hours of symptom onset. Evidence for the treatment benefit has also been extended to patients presenting within 24 hours of symptom onset, along with patients with large ...

The Lancet Public Health: MMR vaccine remains the best protection against measles - modelling study in England suggests level of protection decreases slightly over time  The MMR vaccine remains highly protective against measles for life, protecting over 95% of vaccinated individuals from measles.   Most measles cases in England are in unvaccinated children and young people, but the proportion of measles cases in people who received two doses of the MMR vaccine has increased since 2010, especially among young adults.   New ...

The risk of being born with a major heart defect is 36% higher in babies who were conceived after assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilisation (IVF), according to results of a very large study published in the European Heart Journal [1] today (Friday).   Researchers say the finding is important since congenital heart defects are the most common form of birth defects, and some of them are associated with life threatening complications.   The study also shows that the increase ...

(Friday, 27 September 2024, Amsterdam, Netherlands) Innovative research has provided compelling evidence that perceived stress can directly trigger the relapse of psoriatic skin lesions.1 The study, presented today at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress 2024, is the first to scientifically validate this connection in vivo. Psoriasis, a chronic skin condition affecting over 6 million people in Europe, is characterised by rapid skin cell production, leading to scaling and inflammation.2, 3 While it has long ...

PHILADELPHIA (September 26, 2024) – A groundbreaking article published in the latest issue of Nursing Outlook proposes a significant shift in how nursing care is measured within acute and critical care settings. This "Blueprint for Action" seeks to revolutionize current methods by recognizing the full scope of a nurse's work and its profound impact on patient outcomes. "The current measurement systems fail to capture the essence of what nurses truly do," explains lead-author ...

Transport proteins are responsible for the ongoing movement of substrates into and out of a biological cell. However, it is difficult to determine which substrates a specific protein can transport. Bioinformaticians at Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf (HHU) have developed a model – called SPOT – which can predict this with a high degree of accuracy using artificial intelligence (AI). They now present their approach, which can be used with arbitrary transport proteins, in the scientific journal PLOS Biology. Substrates in biological cells need to be continuously transported inwards and outwards across the cell membrane to ensure the survival of the cells and ...